Panning for gold in Eqi
Many people have called Eqi "Northern Greenland's answer to Paradise", because of its unbelievable natural beauty.

Two glacier tongues roll out into the completely calm water of the wide bay and the crashes sounding from the ice proclaim the creation of yet another iceberg.

An old expedition cabin at Port Victor has a wonderful view across the southern glacier, Eqip Sermia. Port Victor gets its name from Paul Emile Victor, the French polar researcher who led a series of inland ice cap expeditions in the 1940's and 1950's using this cabin as base camp.

Not far from the cabin the huge river Eqip Kuussuaa sweeps from the ice cap out to the sea. Through the centuries it has dug itself deeper and deeper into the otherwise flat alluvial plain so that it is now about 30 metres under the level of the plain.

The Eqi area has much to offer for the nature-interested traveller to Greenland in addition to the wonderful beauty, silence and peace.

| Eqi | Helicopter tour to the Eqi glacier | Helicopter trips to Eqi and Ataa |
| 5- day tour to Eqi from Ilulissat | Address and E-mail |

Eqi

Gold panning.
The impressive river at Eqi, Eqip Kuussuuaa, has slowly but surely eroded the mountains of Eqi's hinterland since the last Ice Age. Gold is one of the many minerals the river carries with it towards the sea. In the small pools and slow-flowing tributaries of the main river it is possible to experience the original Klondyke gold fever. Gold-washing pans are available on the spot and after necessary instruction from the guide it is now possible for you to pan for gold.

Walks
From Port Victor it is possible to take the approx. 4 hour walk up to and out onto the inland ice cap itself, from where all the French expeditions left. On this tour there is ample opportunity to admire the bird and plant life and on the way you will see the most beautiful imaginable view across glaciers and the ice cap. The area is very accessible and so there are plenty of possibilities to take short or long walks alone in the mountains behind Port Victor.

Angling.
In the bay itself you can catch uuvaq - fiord cod - and the many lakes give the angler good chances of catching a fat Greenland trout for the evening meal.

Overnight accommodation
There are plans to erect cabins at Port Victor but until these plans are realized we live in large tents which really give the absolutely correct feeling of being in the midst of nature.
A visit to Eqi can either be made directly from Ilulissat or as an excursion from the cabin village Smilla which is 2 hours sailing distance from Eqi. If a visit to Smilla Cabin Village is combined with a visit to Eqi, the visit to Eqi can be a day trip or a longer stay lasting several days.






Helicopter tour to the Eqi glacier

We fly from Ilulissat across the Paakitsoq Land, an area of great natural beauty, on our way to Eqi. When we approach Eqi we can see the impressive Eqi glacier which is reflected in the shining water. The glacier is active which is proved by the hundreds of small and large icebergs in the water around it.
We land at Port Victor which is an old expedition cabin. The place was used as Base Camp for a series of French expeditions to the inland ice cap in the 1940's and 50's under the leadership of Paul Emile Victor. From the cabin there is a most beautiful view across the glacier, Eqip Sermia and the wide bay.
We will stay for about ½ hour at Eqi and enjoy the tremendous beauty of this place. The calm and silence which is characteristic of the Greenlandic nature is certainly worth experiencing when one is used to the noisy and stressful daily life back home!
From Eqi we first fly in over the inland ice cap and get a vivid impression of the enormous scale of this ice. After this overwhelming experience we return to Ilulissat.


Period:June - September
Degree of difficulty:1s
Tour duration:Approx. 1½ hours
"Bring your own"Sunglasses, camera and mosquito repellant.
Meeting place:At your accommodation in Ilulissat
approx. 30 minutes before departure,
Included:Helicopter trip Ilulissat - Eqi - Ilulissat.
Tour no.JAV63
Min.:4 pers.


Pricelist





Helecopter trips to Eqi and Ataa.

In the often totally calm water there are hundreds of small and large icebergs and in the background soars the magnificent active Eqi glacier.
After having erected a camp near the cabin the rest of the day can be spent taking short walks around the area and you will be delighted how beautiful the scenery can be!
Because the accommodation, food, excursions and activities are all extras (see price list) you have the possibility of absolutely freely planning your own stay at Eqi or Ataa.
An example could be this: The following day we walk up onto the ice cap, following the same route which the many French expeditions used in the 1940's and 1950's. The route is extremely picturesque and on the way there is ample opportunity to admire the many beautiful arctic flowers and stones. There is also the possibility of panning for gold near Eqi. In the big glacial river not far from the cabin, gold can be found in the slow- flowing tributaries. Gold-washing pans are available and the guide can show you the correct technique.
After a few days stay at Eqi we are collected by a boat and sail to Smilla Cabin Village, approx. 2 hours from Eqi. There are many different activities and excursion possibilities here which one can experience (see JAV58)


Period:July - September
Degree of difficulty:3s
Tour duration:Helicopter flight Ilulissat-Eqi approx. ½ hour, Ataa-Ilulissat approx. 20 min. Boat trip Eqi - Ataa approx. 2 hours.
"Bring your own"Sunglasses, suntan lotion, warm and waterproof clothes, mosquito repellant, sleeping bag and personal items.
Meeting place:At your accommodation
approx. 30 minutes before departure,
Included:Helicopter flight Ilulissat-Eqi and Ataa-Ilulissat. Boat trip from Eqi to Ataa.
Tour no.JAV62
Min.:4 pers.


Pricelist




5 day tour to Eqi from Ilulissat

We sail early in the morning from Ilulissat and in the beautiful morning light we head north.
On the way we pass several of the enormous icebergs from the Ilulissat Ice Fiord and after about 2 hours of sailing we reach the settlement of Oqaattut/Rodebay.
This settlement, like all Greenlandic villages, consists of colourful timber houses which picturesquely contrast with the wild nature which surrounds the village. We make a stop at Oqaattut before we continue towards the north.
After entering Ataa Sound we now sail with mountains on both sides and the small but beautiful icebergs perfect the picture of genuine unadulterated arctic scenery. There are good opportunities to see seals which briefly come to the surface to breathe before they continue hunting for food under the water.
We arrive at Eqi in the late afternoon and are accommodated in tents. The local guide provides information about the possible activities for the following days.
During the stay there is a wide variety of outdoor activities which this outstandingly beautiful area can offer.
Panning for gold, flower walks, walks to the inland ice cap and angling are just some of the keywords to the wonderful experiences you can expect in Eqi.
After our stay in Eqi we are collected by the boat and we sail back to ilulissat.


Period:July - September
Degree of difficulty:1s- 3s
Tour duration:Approx. 9 hours sailing Ilulissat - Eqi, 3 whole days stay at Eqi.
"Bring your own"Sleeping bag,personal items etc., camera,
warm clothes, mosquito repellant.
Meeting place:At your accommodation in Ilulissat 15 minutes before departure,
Included: Return trip by sea Ilulissat - Eqi, full board and lodging. Guide on the entire trip.
Min.:8
Tour no.JAV61


Pricelist



Guided Tours Boat Trips Helicopter Trips Dog Sledge Tours
Fishing Tours etc. Price List '97 Sledge races Miscellaneous
Smilla Cabin Village Ilulissat Airport Camp Ice-Cap General Conditions
Greenland Outfitters Eqi ! Hotels & hostels Film Production Support
A brief introduction to the town of Ilulissat

Please contact us for further details and booking

Ilulissat Tourist Service
P.O. Box 272
DK-3952 Ilulissat
Greenland

E-mail: ilulissat.tourist@greennet.gl
Phone: +299 4 43 22
Fax: +299 4 39 33

When calling from abroad, please note
the time difference to Greenland


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